- Funding Programme
- Year
- 2022
Vital Digital Breda: Boosting Cyber Resilience in City Regions
The Vital Digital Breda project strengthened the Breda city region’s capacity to prevent and respond to digital cyber threats. The project helps local organisations build awareness and partnerships to prevent and respond to digital threats, including reinforcing human-centric and innovative digital government services.
Context
With accelerating digitalisation across Europe, city regions face growing exposure to cyber risks. In line with the EU’s Digital Decade and Recovery and Resilience Facility priorities, the Vital Digital Breda project was launched to strengthen local cyber resilience. It aims to protect critical services—such as healthcare, water management and public safety—by fostering structured collaboration between public and private actors. Triggered by past cyber incidents and heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, the project addresses the urgent need to improve preparedness, promote awareness, and ensure continuity of essential services through coordinated local action.
Support delivered
With funding from the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument, the European Commission worked with a consortium of experts (AARC, Arctik, Avans University of Applied Sciences, Capgemini Invent, Technopolis Group) to assist Breda’s digital transition. From 2023 to 2024, the team co-developed an operational framework for cyber resilience, a supporting toolbox, a pilot in Breda, training sessions, training materials, and a communication strategy. Key stakeholders included local authorities, safety regions, and SME’s/private actors.
Results achieved
The project equipped Breda’s key institutions with tools to develop and mainstream digital cyber resilience and awareness. Six thematic articles, a visual framework of cyber maturity levels, and a 35-item Digital Resilience Toolbox were developed and disseminated via a new website and social media channels. The project enhanced stakeholder alignment and visibility through co-created materials and events like the “Trots Op Projecten” day. The "Working together on our digital future" tagline reflects Breda’s collaborative approach. The model has sparked interest beyond the city, with potential for replication in other Dutch regions.
More about the project
You can read the documents related to the project here: